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Riyadh, Paris Agree to Develop Al-Ula Province

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of al-Ula, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs sign agreement on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of al-Ula, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs sign agreement on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Riyadh, Paris Agree to Develop Al-Ula Province

Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of al-Ula, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs sign agreement on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of al-Ula, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs sign agreement on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Royal Commission for al-Ula (RCU) confirmed that the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Kingdom and France to develop the historical and heritage sites in al-Ula province reflects Saudi Arabia's firm commitment to protect and promote the world heritage and its recognition of the importance of developing sustainable tourism and cultural heritage with partners from around the world.

It also reflects the Kingdom’s willingness to boost means of cooperation among all partners from different sectors through the implementation of various projects that achieve the desired objectives.
RCU explained in a statement on Tuesday that being one of the Kingdom’s primary cultural development projects, both nations will embark on a collaborative project to develop future visions for a long-term cultural, heritage and tourism development project for Al-Ula.

The aim is to enable local, regional and international visitors to experience the richness of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage, Arabian civilizations and local values, in line with Vision 2030, in order to positively support the creation of a thriving economy.

“France is a distinguished partner for its remarkable successes in the fields of tourism, hospitality, preservation of heritage, monuments and arts,” the statement pointed out.

In the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, French President Emmanuel Macron and Gérard Mestrallet, Special Envoy of the French President for al-Ula, the intergovernmental agreement was signed by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Governor of al-Ula, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The terms include an agreement between the two governments to share and exchange knowledge on the development al-Ula province culturally and economically in addition to the preservation of culture and historical heritage and natural and human resources.

These objectives will be achieved through cooperation in areas of architectural planning, infrastructure and mobility, preservation of cultural and architectural heritage, cultural and artistic performances, promotion of the cultural identity of the province, development of the hospitality sector, promotion of sustainable tourism, preservation of the environment, strengthening of national competencies and capacities, transferring expertise and localization of technology.

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Gulf

Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region

Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)
Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Attacks on Iraq’s Kurdistan Region

Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)
Saudi Arabia affirmed its rejection of undermining Iraq's sovereignty and the security of its institutions (SPA)

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Tuesday the attacks that targeted Kurdistan region in Iraq, including an attack on the office of its Prime Minister Masrour Barzani describing them as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement that the kingdom categorically rejects hostile operations targeting political figures and anything that could undermine the security of Iraqi state institutions or threaten the country's security and stability.

The ministry reiterated the kingdom’s firm opposition to all forms of interference in the internal affairs of states, violations of their sovereignty and breaches of the principles of good neighborliness and international law.

Barzani announced on Monday that two Iranian drones loaded with explosives targeted his private office on Erbil and the residence of the head of the Parastin Agency. Officials described the attack as a serious escalation violating Iraq’s sovereignty.

Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Sudan Establish Joint Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 
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Saudi Arabia, Sudan Establish Joint Coordination Council

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, sign the document. (SPA) 

Saudi Arabia and Sudan signed an agreement Monday establishing a joint coordination council to deepen bilateral ties and provide an institutional framework for cooperation through clearly defined initiatives, projects and targets.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Sudanese counterpart, Mohieddin Salem Ahmed Ibrahim, signed the document establishing the Saudi-Sudanese Coordination Council in Riyadh. The council is intended to serve as an institutional platform for developing relations and advancing cooperation between the two countries.

Following their meeting, the ministers co-chaired a session of the bilateral Political Consultation and Follow-Up Committee, where they reviewed relations, explored ways to expand cooperation across various fields and discussed regional developments.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Salem described Saudi-Sudanese relations as “strategic” and said he expected the new council to produce tangible results. He stressed that Red Sea security remained a top priority for both countries.

Salem also praised the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Türkiye, expressing optimism about Sudan potentially joining a broader grouping with the Kingdom.

He described Saudi Arabia as more than a major power or international symbol, saying Riyadh had approached the Sudanese crisis with “the sense of a neighbor, supporter and shared destiny.” He added that Khartoum viewed potential integration into the trilateral grouping positively as a means of strengthening regional security and stability.

The Sudanese minister praised Saudi Arabia’s support since the outbreak of the war, which he attributed to the Rapid Support Forces and mercenaries. He pointed to Riyadh’s hosting of the Jeddah talks — the first negotiating platform launched after the conflict erupted — as evidence of the Kingdom’s commitment to Sudan and its people.

Salem also highlighted humanitarian assistance provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, saying the war had prompted Sudan to reassess its relationships with other countries. Khartoum’s foreign policy, he added, would take a different course in the future.

He said the coordination council could usher in comprehensive strategic cooperation spanning political, security, economic and social affairs.

Turning to Sudan’s domestic political dialogue, Salem expressed hope that civilian forces could reach consensus on an overarching vision for resolving the crisis, stressing that political divisions and fragmentation among those groups had contributed to complicating the country’s political landscape.

He urged civilian and political forces to unite around national priorities and engage in dialogue free from agendas that could undermine national unity. He also called for inclusive internal talks representing Sudan’s diverse political currents and fostering greater cooperation between the government and national forces.

Salem further urged Sudanese political groups to forge a unified national position to confront the challenges created by the war, accusing the militia involved in the conflict of seeking demographic change in the country.

At a news conference in Riyadh on Monday evening, Salem and Sudanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dafallah Al-Haj said the council would pave the way for further consultations, initiatives and projects aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and integration.

 

 

 

Gulf

KSrelief's Masam Project Removes 2,157 Mines Across Yemen in One Week

The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)
The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)
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KSrelief's Masam Project Removes 2,157 Mines Across Yemen in One Week

The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)
The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026. (SPA)

The Masam Project for clearing landmines in Yemen, implemented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), removed 2,157 mines from various areas of Yemen during the second week of August 2026, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The clearance operations included 68 anti-tank mines, 11 anti-personnel mines, 2,075 unexploded ordnance items, and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), contributing to efforts to make affected areas safer for local communities.

This brings the total number of mines removed since the launch of the Masam Project to 646,550. The mines had been planted indiscriminately across Yemen, posing a threat to the lives of innocent civilians, including children, women, and older people.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, continues its efforts to clear mines in Yemen, enhancing civilian safety and supporting safe and dignified living conditions for the Yemeni people.